How Innovative Business Models Are Providing for Our Community During Social Distancing Period

As Elevate moves towards an open center to fully service our clients, a look at the real world application of innovative non-traditional business models in our community is helpful. Amid the current COVID-19 public safety concerns, one company is playing an important role in keeping our community safe and stimulating business for local restaurants who may be struggling due to the current closure of sit-in establishments through the end of the month.

Online service ‘DoorDash’ allows customers to order their food through their app or online which allows customers to order meals without leaving their home. While this service has always enabled users to eat from restaurants in our area, it is especially relevant during this pandemic. For the elderly, disabled or parents tending to children who are home from school DoorDash provides food for many who could not otherwise support these restaurants or purchase food on their own in this time of need.

The following article was written by a Mattoon in Motion member when DoorDash first came to our area, and highlights the importance of business and economic development in our community.

“DoorDash

Mattoon In Motion would like to welcome DoorDash, the largest and fastest-growing on-demand destination for door-to-door delivery in more than 4,000 cities in the United States and Canada into our community. After winning the Google.org Impact Challenge Illinois grant, as a community, we are progressing our local economy by attracting new innovative business models and companies such as DoorDash.

After being contacted by a local restaurant inquiring about a food delivery service, Mattoon in Motion did a quick survey to several restaurants in the area. A number of them said they would be interested in utilizing a service such as DoorDash. Mattoon in Motion reached out to many other companies that provide food delivery services, many did not respond. DoorDash reached back out to us enthusiastically about coming to Mattoon/Charleston and stated that they advanced the schedule because of the achievement that the community has made and its goals towards the future.

We want to thank DoorDash for advancing their schedule and providing a needed service to our area that can support local restaurants, jobs, and citizens wanting to enjoy many of our local restaurants at home. If you would like more information about DoorDash visit https://www.doordash.com/

And be sure to keep up to date with other projects Mattoon community is working on by visiting www.mattooninmotion.com ”

Services such as DoorDash provide economic stimulation to our community and provide jobs for many who benefit from its flexible scheduling model. While DoorDash mentions the achievements and goals recently made in our community as key factors in their decision to implement their service when they did it is important to continuously strive to improve the area in which we live. We at Elevate hope that this current situation will give birth to dreams of entrepreneurship for many who can use this opportunity to plan for the future.

In addition, the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of how local restaurants are continuing service in this current situation. This list is available on the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

As always, keep up to date with Elevate on social media, connect with us on LinkedIn @ Elevate CCIC, INC., Facebook @ElevateCCIC, Twitter and Instagram @elevate217